Summertime is upon us, and if you live in the south like me, the heat is no joke! It’s time to get serious about our beauty routine and keep our makeup looking fabulous and fresh all day, no matter the temperature. Nobody wants to worry about their makeup melting off in this scorching heat. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! In this post, I’m going to share some tips and tricks on how to beat the heat and keep your makeup looking flawless.

So ladies, get ready to learn how to heat-proof your makeup like a pro! Let’s go!”

#1 Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize……and when in doubt Moisturize!

I know that it may seem counterintuitive to some to get your skin super dewy before applying makeup. But let me tell you, it will be your best friend this summer.

Not only will it keep your skin hydrated, but it will help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles thereby creating a more flawless finish once product is applied.

The key is to let the moisturizer dry completely into the skin before adding any makeup. If you skip this step, you’ll find a sloppy muddy looking mess once you start to apply creams and powders.

My absolute favorite moisturizer during the summer months is the Nivea Cream Moisturizer that you can easily find at any drugstore.

#2 Primer is a Must

I used to be skeptical about primers. I thought it was the beauty industries’ way of getting even more of my money. However, I now shout it from the rooftops: “Prime, people, prime!”

I love how a good primer makes my skin feel and how it increases the longevity of wear. There are so many different primers on the market. You can choose between luminous bases, formulas that promise an all day matte finish, and even ones that provide color correction.

I have a high end favorite and a drug store favorite. Choose what works for you and fits in your price range.

First up is my high end fav which is the Hydro Grip Primer by Milk Makeup. This is a super hydrating lightweight gel made for all skin types that boasts a 12-hour makeup “grip.” And please believe the hype! This stuff is amazing.

Not only is it silicone free, but it also has hyaluronic acid to provide a little skin love under the makeup. And a little goes a long way with this one. One or two pumps gets you through the day. Just make sure you allow it to dry completely before moving to your next steps.

Next up is my drug store favorite which is the E.L.F. Cosmetics Putty Primer. E.L.F.’s primers are so awesome that they can easily stand up against their higher end rivals for a fraction of the cost. There are three formulas to choose from: the original poreless primer, a matte finish, and a luminous finish. All three options sell for $10 at Ulta Beauty and also at elfcosmetics.com.

These putty primers have an incredibly buttery soft finish on the skin that smooths the look of pores and helps to increase the ease of makeup application and longevity of wear.

I recommend purchasing the Putty Primer Brush and Applicator for $7 for a more hygienic application for both personal and professional use.

#3 Use a Buildable Foundation

Now let’s get to the fun stuff, makeup application! To make sure your face lasts through the summer heat, make sure you choose a buildable long-wear foundation. I love something that’s buildable because I want the versatility of being able to go full coverage if I need to, but also super lightweight for those days when it’s super hot and I don’t feel like putting on a full face.

One of my favorite options is the Maybelline FitMe Matte Poreless Foundation. This foundation is the O-G triple O-G of drug store foundations. It is buildable, lightweight, dries down matte, and has 40 colors in the shade range. And it’s super affordable selling for at $8.99 at Ulta.

#4 Finishing powder, finishing powder, finishing powder…….did I say finishing powder…..

After applying all these super slipperly products, now it’s time to set everything in place with a good setting powder to make sure everything stays where you put it. This is a super important step especially in the summer months where the heat will very easily cause all the products on your face to slide and run and melt and get muddy and gross.

Typically, when I bring up the idea of setting powder, most people think of the technique where you leave loose powder on top of where you’ve added concealer and allow that powder to sit and “bake” for ten minutes or so. If you don’t like that look or don’t have the time, just lightly press a powder over your existing makeup. This can be loose or compact, but the key here is to press and not rub so you don’t disturb the product you laid underneath.

There are many great option to choose from that are both pressed and loose. However, some of my favorites are the Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Setting and Baking Powder, Maybelline’s FitMe Loose Finishing Powder, and Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder.

Huda Beauty’s product line is not the most affordable choice but it is just about always the best performing choice. Sold exclusively at hudabeauty.com and at sephora it gives high end luxury with a down to earth feel and accessibilty. Tilbury’s pressed powder comes in at an even higher price point at $48 but it helps to create the most silky smooth seamless finish that lasts all day.

The most affordable option I recommend is Maybelline’s Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder. With this powder you are missing out on the higher price point and the luxury brand but definitely not the performance. This powder can be worn alone or over makeup and a little goes a long way. I like to apply it with a damp beauty blender, a powder puff, or a brush for lighter coverage. It’s super versatile and a must have in any beginner or professional makeup kit.

#5 Setting Spray

Now we’re all done with application and it’s time to spray some setting spray and tackle our day. There are so many setting sprays on the market now, it’s hard to figure out what you need or want. Dewey. Glowy, Matte, 24-hour, 16 hour, etc. Trust me, I’ve tried just about every setting spray there is, and I’ve found that I keep coming back to two products. Evian facial spray is one that I keep gravitating to. Not only does it work incredibly well but I love that it is offered in a larger size so I don’t have to purchase it as often. It’s an all natural mineral spray that is gentle for even the most sensitive skin.

Some other great choices are both the Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray and Morphe’s Continuous Setting Mist. There are five different formulas to choose from with the All-Nighter spray: Waterproof, ultra matte, extra glow dewy, vitamin C hydrating, and a de-slick oil control option. And with the Morphe option there’s three formulas to choose from: the original, the prep and set mist +, and the coconut bliss.